Commentary: Taylor situation at Alabama takes odd turn

The lady who accused Jonathan Taylor (53) of domestic violence has recanted her story and been arrested for making a false report to law enforcement.(Photo: The Associated Press)

The latest episode regarding Jonathan Taylor could put Alabama in an even deeper dilemma.

Two days after Nick Saban dismissed the defensive tackle Monday following his arrest for domestic violence Saturday, the accuser recanted her statement and been arrested for false reporting to law enforcement, the Associated Press reported Wednesday morning.

Tuscaloosa police said in a statement it will review the charges at a later date. ... Wow.

So what should Saban do now? Stick by his word or bring Taylor back based on his own ideology of giving players an opportunity. Saban put Taylor, who had been arrested twice in a span of five months while at Georgia with the latter involving domestic violence, on a zero tolerance policy and strict guidelines.

Saban said Monday that Taylor "didn't live up to that."

Taylor knew one slip up and he was gone. The question now becomes is Taylor guilty or not of any charges. The lady is recanting her story, been arrested for providing a false report to law enforcement, but that doesn't mean Taylor didn't do anything.

On Monday, Saban said Taylor has "a problem." So you got to think something happened, right?

"I think he has a problem and a circumstance that is not acceptable," Saban said. "And that is his problem. And he has been certainly dealt with relative to this problem."

For Saban to kick him off the team despite saying Taylor was "a good person" and did "everything he was supposed to do," you got to figure Taylor did something, but Saban also doesn't want his program to have any ties to anything related to domestic violence that has occurred under his watch.

Domestic violence is the hottest and touchiest issue in sports, period, and Taylor's arrest added to the initial outcry from people saying Saban shouldn't have given Taylor a scholarship. I was one of those people.

I still stand firm by that because you don't sign a player who has been arrested twice in a five-month span and has charges pending regardless of his talent or to fill a need at a position. Alabama doesn't need to do that because it has the best talent year in and year out. So why even take the chance on a guy with that checkered of a past?

You give that valued scholarship to someone who can play and hasn't been arrested.

If Taylor is found innocent of all charges against him in this latest situation, will Saban bring him back? Just as it was a "university decision" as Saban put it in January to sign Taylor, the same rules should apply if Taylor was asked to rejoin the team.

Then again, would Taylor even want to return to Alabama if he's found innocent. If Saban was willing to look past Taylor's past, you know another team would and play the 'second chance" card to the fullest..

Now Saban didn't leave the door open for Taylor to return, but he did say something that makes you wonder if he would.

"If there's anything we can do to help him overcome his issues and problem we will still certainly try and help him be successful," Saban said Monday. "But right now, the guy just can't be on our football team."

I wouldn't because Taylor still has charges pending. Then again, I wouldn't have signed Taylor from the beginning because of what happened while he was at Georgia. He was kicked out of there after the second arrest. Alabama didn't need to take that risk even with a guy who could help solidify a run defense that Ohio State ran completely over in the College Football Playoff.

Beyond that, if Taylor is found innocent, it opens the door for those who say, see, women are always lying about guys putting their hands on them. This is still a serious issue and in most cases, the woman is telling the truth. So we can't take one incident and make a blanket judgment of all women who are victims of domestic violence.

Saban said he's not apologizing for giving Taylor an opportunity. That hit the ears of people wrong. If Taylor is found innocent, Saban's word and ideology will collide and regardless of what he does, someone isn't going to like it.

I'm not in favor of Taylor returning even if he is found innocent because I wasn't in favor of Alabama awarding him a scholarship in the first place. I'm standing by my word. I'm wondering which word will Saban stand by if Taylor is found innocent.

Duane Rankin, Advertiser columnist and sports reporter, can be followed on Twitter @DuaneRankin or reached via email at dmrankin@gannett.com.